October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween! I was so pleased by the attendance at our teen student workshops. Over 20 students participated in the two programs and I hope everyone enjoyed the event. Andrew Kraus was excellent in his accompanying role and he was “on the spot” since he hadn’t rehearsed with any of the teens. As I told you, we will have three different rehearsal times from which you can choose your practice time for Dec. 3. Please check my website for pictures of the assembled students. I was so pleased to hear all my students as they performed with another pianist….I could really “watch” them.
We will have two teen recitals on Saturday, Dec. 3 –1:30 and 3:15 and I would appreciate it if you could all let me know as soon as possible on which program your student will sing. I want to be sure that no two students perform the same songs on the same recital. Thanks! The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, south of Rt. 50…so you will need to allow time for this commute and hope there is little traffic on Rt. 66. I will give you all good directions. This is a small auditorium with an excellent piano which is owned by my music teachers association, NVMTA. It is a most popular recital venue and I am always happy to be able to rent it.
The fee for the recital is $35 which helps me pay the pianist and hall rental fees. If possible, I’d appreciate it if you’d add this amount to your November tuition bill…Thanks! The rehearsals for the recital will be held in my studio on the Sunday after Thanksgiving between 2 and 6 p.m. and Tuesday Night, November 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Thursday evening, Dec. 1. The sign- up sheets will be posted soon.
I hope you will invite your friends and families to this recital. Receptions will follow both programs. I am looking forward to hearing these students in performance!
Another reminder about bringing empty CD discs to the lessons and also remember to drive very slowly in my neighborhood!
October 16, 2011
As you know, our Fall Workshop with Andrew Kraus, pianist, will be held in my living room on Sunday afternoon, October 30th. At this point there are approximately 19 students who are planning to participate. In respect for your time, I feel I should divide the group in some way. You are more than welcome to come for the entire event. We will begin at exactly 4 o’clock p.m. with the first section. We will then take a very short break and resume the singing at approximately 4:45 p.m. and end by 5:45 p.m. with refreshments. We’ll also might have refreshments in the break time as well. Please let me know if you wish to sing earlier or later! This whole schedule could change any day!
In order for me to refine this schedule, I really need to have a firm commitment from each of you and the payment of $10 in advance. I have promised Andrew a certain fee for the afternoon! I know you understand.
Also, remember that our Holiday Voice Recital is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.(?) at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. Our rehearsals with Andrew will be on either Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, Tuesday night, November 29 or Dec. 1 in the evening. The cost will be $35. I hope you are all planning to perform and that you will invite your friends and families! We need to be working on this new music immediately!
I am especially happy to welcome several new students to this musical afternoon! We are a very supportive group! I am very much looking forward to this workshop!
If you want me to make a CD recording of your performance, be sure you bring me a CD marked with your name…
October 3, 2011
I hope the new school year has begun well for all of you. On the most part, I have been very pleased with the attendance of all the young students. I am not in a position to make-up missed lessons, unless the absence has been caused by a dire emergency. This is only fair to me. My schedule is very tight. Thank you for your understanding.
On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, in my living room, I will sponsor a student workshop with Andrew Kraus, pianist. This event is only for the students and each session will last just 1 hour and 15 minutes. The first workshop will start at 1 o’clock p.m. and the second one at 2:30 pm. The $8 pianist fee is payable in advance with your October tuition. The students are very much encouraged to attend and to stay for the entire time. Please let me know on which program you wish to perform. This workshop gives the students an important performance opportunity. Also, these young people will hear new repertoire and work with a fine pianist.
Andrew will accompany the students at our holiday recital on Dec. 3, 2011, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. Your families are very much encouraged to attend this recital and we will have rehearsals in my studio the week before.
Please remember to drive very slowly in my neighborhood. As most of you already know, my cul de sac is used as the neighborhood playground and there are many young children living nearby who like to ride bikes, etc. in front of my house. Be very careful!
The Spring Teen Voice Recital will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 20, 2012, at the McLean Baptist Church. I wanted you to have this date in advance.
I will not teach this Saturday, October 8 or Monday, Oct. 10…I will teach Monday night.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions regarding the lessons and please check my website for the latest postings of the “Student of the Week.” This award is for the student who has practiced the most during that particular week.
Let’s hope our weather improves this week!
September 1, 2011
I hope everyone has enjoyed a great summer. I know I have been seeing most of you on a regular basis, but for those students who are returning this month, I wanted to touch base with you!
Mary Anne Kolb gave a beautiful recital on July 30 and she and I were pleased that Ernie and Duane could also attend. She and George Peachey presented a beautiful program, highlighted by a performance of Schumann’s song cycle “Frauenlieben und Leben.” Then on Sept. 1 a group of adult students augmented by two teens presented a program at the Chesterbrook Residence Retirement Home in McLean with Gillian Cookson, piano.
We will have a student workshop in my living room on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2011, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Andrew Kraus will accompany and I hope you can all be present. Andrew will also play for our Dec. 3 recital at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. The workshop fee is $10 and the recital fee $35.
And so you can save the date far in advance, the Spring Recital will be held on a Friday Night, June 8 at 7 p.m. This will be the first time we’ve had a Friday night recital and I hope this date works well for all of you.
My lesson fees are now $36 for ½ hour lesson and $46 for 45 minutes… Again, I appreciate at least a 24 hour notice for lesson cancellations.
You might like to get tickets to attend “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center between Sept. 28 and Oct. 30…or for “Tosca” also at the Kennedy Center between Sept. 10-24. You can order tickets on line at www.kennedy-center.org I have a link to a site where if you buy one ticket to Tosca, you can purchase another ticket for half price. I’m happy to pass this offer on to all of you.
I hope this will be a very memorable musical year for you all!
August 29, 2011
I hope that none of my students and their families had any big problems over the weekend of Hurricane Irene, and that you are ready for your new school years to begin.
I have had a good summer…a couple of short trips and a three day class at Shenandoah Music Conservatory in Winchester which dealt with commercial, contemporary and music theatre singing.
I will begin my Fall teaching schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and I am also planning to teach my Saturday morning students on Saturday, Sept. 3. This summer many of my teenagers took lessons and on August 11th a group of teen summer students performed at the Chesterbrook Residences Retirement Home in McLean and a few more will sing there on Sept. 1 with my adult group.
I will sponsor a student voice workshop in my living room on Sunday afternoon, Oct 30 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. with Andrew Kraus, pianist. The fee will be $8 and I am hoping that every student can participate. This activity is only for the young people. All families are invited to attend the Student Voice Recital which will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. The fee for this event is $35. We will have rehearsals for this program in my studio the weekend of Thanksgiving and on two weeknights following the holiday. Each student will sign up for a specific practice time. Please mark these two dates on your calendars.
The fee for lessons this year is $36 for ½ hour and $46 for 45 minutes. I would like to be paid for the month in advance and I will give every student a bill on the last lesson day of the preceding month. If I have to cancel a lesson, I will make this time up to you. Please be sure that I have each of your cell phone numbers in the event I have to cancel lessons. If you have to cancel a lesson, I always appreciate a 24 hour notice and I will do my best to offer you another lesson time, but since my schedule is so tight this year, I may not be able to make up the time. I know you understand. Since the lesson time is reserved for you, this is only fair to me. My emergency studio phone number is 703-734-6913. For non-emergencies, please call me at my home number 703-356-3219.
I am looking so forward to working with these young students. I will try to let you all know about performances I think the teens would enjoy attending. The first would be the opera, “Tosca” by Puccini at the Kennedy Center. I will attend the Friday, Sept. 16 performance and I have room in my car to drive a couple of interested students. You can purchase tickets on line: www.dc-opera.org “Peter Pan” is playing at Wolf Trap over Labor Day weekend. We will attend a performance on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. with our family and it would be wonderful to see some of you there!
Please bring new CDR discs to the lessons for recording purposes. I also always appreciate receiving 5 cents per page for Xeroxing. The ink toners are very expensive!
Best wishes to all of the students for a great school year of learning and music making! Check my webpage to see some of the summer activities in which my students participated. Thanks to Lori Peterson for her excellent work on my webpage. I am most appreciative.
June 19, 2011
This seems like a good time to write since the Fairfax Co. School students are just beginning their much deserved, and needed, summer break.
I have been teaching right along since our student recital and I appreciate the loyalty of so many of my teens! I will continue to teach during part of the summer. I will not teach the week of July 11. There also won’t be lessons on July 19, 20, and 21; I will be taking a class on CCM (commercial, contemporary musical theatre styles of singing) at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA. I’ll teach during the day on Monday, August 15, and then the studio will be closed until the 29th. So hopefully those who are able to take lessons this summer will enjoy studying. I am trying to get the students an opportunity to sing at a retirement center and this is always a challenge … finding the perfect date and having the activities directors return my calls!
I have a very busy schedule for the Fall and I need your help! If a few of you can take lessons immediately after school (2:45 p.m.) this will help. Also, if you are not planning to continue lessons, I must know NOW. I am already making a “wait list.” If you have special requests for lesson times, please tell me as I am formulating my schedule. I am reserving one afternoon a week for personal reasons, so this will affect my available teaching time. I will, therefore, probably have to teach two week nights, as well as Saturday mornings (these times have been taken).
I am increasing my lesson rates by $1! The new fees are $36 for ½-hour lessons and $46 for 45-minute lessons. My CD recorder is hopefully fixed now and the repair cost was $350 for the $700 machine, which broke after only 3 years. It is such an important part of my studio…The students need to record my comments and their assigned music. I have really missed having this resource for the past month and I apologize for the inconvenience its absence has caused.
Again, I stress that I must have at least a 24 hour notice for lesson cancellations. I know you understand this policy. Continue to check my webpage…There are some excellent recital photos posted as well as the news that last week at the Cappies Gala, Jamie Joeyen Waldorf received the “Rising Critics” Award. Congratulations to Jamie for her fine writing!
I would like to begin my fall teaching schedule as soon as possible… the week before Labor Day. If all goes well, I will be missing a week of teaching in October and since our Fall Workshop will be on Sunday, Oct. 31, I want all my students to be prepared to sing. The Holiday Recital will be on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 3, 2011, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. I will not teach most of December…everyone is too busy!
Have wonderful summers and try to attend at least one concert at Wolf Trap Park…"Fiddler on the Roof,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Sweeney Todd” are just a few of the productions being performed there!
Graduates, congratulations and best wishes to you all as you start your college experiences. I hope each of you will continue your love of singing!
May 24, 2011
Thank you all again for helping to make our Teen Spring Voice Recitals so special. I was so pleased that so many families came and that all the students sang so well. Visit the website for several pictures for you to enjoy!
I want to again wish Michelle, Nora C and Nora M, Melissa, Alex and Felicia the very best as they graduate from high school. I hope all my student will have wonderful summers and that they will enjoy the many musical events which are being offered in our area.
For those students who do study this summer, I am hoping to have you present a program in early August at a local retirement home. If any of you have relatives or friends living in such venues, please let me know. I would be happy to contact the program directors at their residences to see if we could provide a performance for them.
It’s been a pleasure working with these wonderful young people. At present I am listening to lots of potential new students. If you do not plan to continue your voice lessons in the Fall, please let me know now so I know how many new singers I can accept as students. Thanks!
May 20, 2011
I am so pleased that most of my students will perform on Sunday at the McLean Baptist Church. When you arrive for the 4 o’clock p.m. recital, we will be meeting up with the end of a church service. They have promised to be out of the sanctuary by 3:45 p.m. I hope so…This church is used by many organizations. They are very community minded and I am so grateful that we can hold the recital in their lovely sanctuary. Please note that the entrance to the church is on Calder Ave….not off the parking lot.
My cell phone number is 571-277-2286 in an emergency on Sunday. I will be leaving my house by 2:30 p.m. If you have any questions at all, please call me early. Don’t forget to bring your music and please “dress-up” --No flip-flops or jeans….I know you know this. If a parent can help video tape the recital I would be most grateful. I will try to have my camera and tripod all set before each recital.
My husband is feeling well and should be in attendance on Sunday. My dear friend and webmaster, Lori Peterson, and her daughter, my former student, Mary, have volunteered to help with the receptions, but If anyone can help us to clean up after the second program, I would be most appreciative.
Please try to be on time to these recitals as we may have to lock the sanctuary doors after we begin. The church has asked me to be sure that we are keeping watch on these entrances.
I will not teach next Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28 or most of Monday, May 30, but I will be home by late afternoon that day to give some lessons. I am anxious to show all the teens the videotape from the recitals….so I will be teaching next week and the rest of the summer (when I am home) for those teens who wish to have lessons. I would like to know the plans of all my students for June so be sure to tell me on Sunday! Thanks!
It has been such a pleasure for me to work with these talented young people. On Sunday I will be saying a sad farewell to the six graduating seniors. I know that music and singing will play a big part in their futures…
May 8, 2011
If I have to cancel lessons at the last minute, I know you will understand. Please check your e-mail inbox on a regular basis.
Attached is a flier advertising the Teen Recitals which will be held two weeks from today. I have listed directions to the McLean Baptist Church. Please send this to your friends and families. It would be so nice to have audiences for these performances.
Also, I don’t think every student has signed up for a rehearsal with our pianist. Please be sure you have a practice time—either this Saturday afternoon, May 14 or Thursday Night, May 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, include the $35 recital fee in your tuition check. I will be sure you receive every lesson for which you have paid!
I think we now need more students to sing at the 4 p.m. recital, if you haven’t told me your preference! I hope all my students are singing their songs for their families… Practice and practice. I am so looking forward to these performances!
May 4, 2011
The Student Voice Recital is in less than 3 weeks. Because Easter break was so late this year, we don’t have much time left before the event. Our rehearsals with George Peachey, our pianist, will be held in my studio on either Saturday afternoon, May 14 after 3 p.m., or after 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. I have sign-up sheets in my studio now…so please let me know which rehearsal date works best for you.
There will be two teen recitals. One will begin at 4 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m. I was going to have them start later, but I have found that we can use the church as early as 4 p.m. Please let me know on which program you wish to sing. Remember, everyone can’t sing at 4 p.m. …so please be flexible. The programs should last only 1 ½ hours with no intermission. Receptions will follow both programs. Indicate your preference now. If enough of you wish the recitals to be at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., let me know and I will change the times.
The recital fee is $35 to help to pay for the pianist and the church donation. Please add this amount to your May tuition. Also, don’t forget to bring CD cassettes to your lessons and to these rehearsals. My recorder is now only accepting Sony, Maxwell and maybe Office Depot CR discs… Please try to bring this type.
If any students want extra lessons this weekend, let me know. I will be here and happy to teach those of you who want lessons on Saturday afternoon. Also, I will be teaching this summer, for those interested students. The studio will be closed May 27 through 30 for Memorial Day.
I hope you will invite your friends to our recitals which will be held in the sanctuary of the McLean Baptist Church, located “in the heart of McLean.” I will give you good directions to this site.
I look forward to seeing you all then.
April 10, 2011
I want to remind you that the studio will be closed April 11 – 25. By now all the teens have selected their two recital pieces and I am most hopeful that all my students will be practicing!
The teen recital is scheduled for SUNDAY, MAY 22, at 4:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – (approximate times) – in the McLean Baptist Church sanctuary. George Peachey will be here to rehearse on either Saturday afternoon, May 14, or Thursday evening, May 19. Please let me know on which day you wish to practice with him in my studio. Please remind me if you have already designated a date.
Your friends and families are cordially invited to these events. Receptions will follow. I realize this is a school night so we will not have intermissions during these programs so that we can end as early as possible.
The recital fee is $35 and I would appreciate it if you would add this fee to your April tuition which you may pay the last week of April. For most of you, there will only be two April lessons, except for the Friday and Saturday students. Also, if you could include money for copying I would appreciate it – 5 cents a page is fine. Also, don’t forget to bring CDR discs to lessons. These are non-reusable CDs. If any student feels he needs an extra lesson before the recital, please let me know. I am even willing to teach on Sunday afternoons so that students feel very well prepared.
Enjoy the spring weather!
March 30, 2011
Thanks to all of you who participated in our spring student workshop held on March 20. I was very much pleased with the turn-out and so happy that the students could work with George Peachey, who will accompany them in their spring voice recital on Sunday, May 22 at the McLean Baptist Church.
I hope all of you will be able to perform on the recital. I have scheduled two rehearsals with Mr. Peachey…one on Saturday afternoon, May 14, beginning at 3 p.m. and the other on Thursday night, May 19, from 6:30 p.m. on. In late April I will have sign-up sheets available for these 10 minute private rehearsal times, which will be held in my studio.
I plan to begin one recital at 5:00 p.m. and the other at 6:45 p.m. I am sorry we cannot convene in the afternoon, but the church sanctuary is used for a church service every Sunday afternoon. A reception will follow each program and I hope you will invite your friends and families to attend. The recital fee is $35 to cover the cost of our pianist and the church use. I would like this money included in your May or April tuition. Thank you! Since I will be gone two weeks in April, please save your tuition until late April, when I return.
In the next week, I hope each student will decide which songs he/she will perform on May 22. The studio will be closed between April 11 and 25. Unfortunately I will miss teaching three Mondays, so I am hopeful the Monday students can take lessons on either Friday, April 8, or the weekend of April 9/10. I will be available Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Also, when I return, the Monday night students are welcome to take lessons the evening of April 26. We are doing quite well scheduling lessons in between school musicals and plays and SAT prep classes, and school choral trips, etc. It’s such a busy time of year. I do hope every student will be prepared to sing on this Spring Recital! I am always happy to give extra lessons!
Please look ahead and let me know of any future lesson absences so I can offer your lesson time to others. Also, if there is a serious reason as to why you can’t sing on the recital, let me know now! I need to carefully plan the recital start times. I appreciate this. Even if you can’t perform, I hope you will attend the event.
For those of you in Fairfax public schools, enjoy your vacations! Take your music along and study! Check my website for current studio news and pictures of our Student of the Week personalities.
March 14, 2011
I will sponsor a voice workshop next Sunday, March 20…The teens will sing between 2 and 4 p.m. I would like each student to decide if he/she wants to sing from 2-3 or 3-4 or be here for the entire event. I want to be certain that we have an even amount of singers for both parts. Refreshments will be served at 4 p.m. Please give me your $10 workshop fee at this week’s lesson, if you haven’t already done so.
I know that there is so much “going on” right now for these young people, but this is the only workshop I will have this spring and this is an important performance opportunity for these teens. I am only asking for an hour of their time! They will benefit so much from performing with George Peachey, our professional pianist. I do expect all my students to attend.
Also, now that we are enjoying daylight savings time, the children in my neighborhood might be playing outside when you come for your lessons. Please drive very slowly.
Please return CDR discs if you have used some of mine! My supply is running out.
Enjoy this lovely weather!
February 28, 2011
Hopefully we’ll greet spring weather without any more snow days. I will be teaching the whole month of March, except for Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5. I will be participating in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Virginia Chapter Spring Conference and a group of my students will be participating. In March there are five Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and Fridays, but I won’t be here for one of them.
I hope most of you will be able to attend our Teen Student Workshop on Sunday, March 20. We’ll have two sections: 2:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Please let me know your preferred time. George Peachey will accompany the workshop and our May recital. The fee is $10. This is an important student activity…a chance for all the teens to hear and to meet each other - and a wonderful opportunity for these young people to work with an excellent pianist. Please add the $10 workshop fee to your March tuition. Thanks! Refreshments will be served.
The Spring Teen Recital will be held on Sunday Evening, May 23, at the McLean Baptist Church. George Peachey will be our pianist!
I know many of my students are now involved in spring student productions. Please look ahead and let me know if you won’t be able to attend your lessons because of rehearsals. I expect at least a 24 hour notice for cancellations. Also, please remember to bring me CDR discs …if you have borrowed some!
February 15, 2011
Just a reminder that I won’t be teaching this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday.
Thank you all for your kind words regarding my “First Person Singular’ article which appeared in the The Washington Post Magazine on Sunday, February 6. It’s been quite a week! I have heard from so many friends, family and former students. Perhaps some of you saw the “Letter to the Editor” in Friday’s POST. I have been deeply moved. You can check my website to see this Letter from a former student.
I had the pleasure of attending the District XII Choral Program at Herndon H.S. on Saturday. It was wonderful to hear my students singing in such a fine choir: Kathryn Bailey, Vanessa Straham, Jamie-Joeyen-Waldorf, Mia Engelhardt, Nora Mueller, and Isabel Hefner from Langley H.S., Ariana Kruszewski from South Lakes and Nancy Pruett from McLean. Congratulations to Isabel Hefner who has been selected to sing in the All State Choir this Spring. Nora Cotter and Rachelle Robertello have also participated in their All-District Choirs.
Remember to save Sunday, March 20 for our student workshop. I will have two sections for the teens: 1:30 p.m. and 3:00. The fee is $10 for our professional pianist. I hope all my students will attend.
I know some of my students will be going on choir trips this spring. If you can tell me the dates on which you will be gone, I would appreciate it. I will take a two week break at Easter…from April 10 to 25.
Many thanks again to Lori Peterson for her expert work on my website. There is so much information contained therein…I hope you will all look at it.
January 30, 2011
I appreciate the effort some of you have made to come to voice lessons on these snowy days. I hope the weather doesn’t affect too many future lesson days and school days, etc.!! We’ve had enough winter!
As you all know, even if school is cancelled for reasons of inclement weather, I appreciate your calling me to say whether you can make your lesson or not. Often, the weather improves as the day continues!
I will not teach February 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. We will travel to San Diego, California, and our daughter and grandson will fly down from Port Townsend, WA., to see us. Please mark your calendars.
The Studio Workshop with George Peachey, pianist, will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 20 in my living room. This event will cost $10 and it is only for students. I hope everyone will be able to attend. Mr. Peachey will accompany my students in the spring recital set for Sunday, May 22. This is a wonderful opportunity for you all to share your music with the other students and for you to sing with a fine pianist. More details will follow.
Last weekend I chaired the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Voice Achievements Competition and I was so pleased that 10 of my students were able to participate. Maggie Dunlap received honorable mention in the 8th, 9th, 10th grade competition and in the 11th and 12th grade competition Michelle Lerch received honorable mention and Ariana Kruczewski placed Second. I was so pleased with the wonderful performances given by my students. We heard excellent singing!
Please look ahead: The May 22 Recital will be held in the sanctuary of the McLean Baptist Church and because of the church’s busy schedule and heavy use, we won’t begin the recitals until 5 p.m. We will have two recitals one at 5 p.m. and one at 6:45 p.m. I do hope these times will work for all my teens. Please look ahead and if you see a big conflict, let me know. The Woman’s Club of Arlington was not available for my use.
Please bring CDR discs to your lessons and if I have lent you some, I’d love to be repaid! Thanks! Also, if I have xeroxed music for you, please give me 5 cents a copy. The toner for my copying machine costs over $125!
I will be attending the opera, “Madame Butterfly” with the Washington National Opera on Tuesday Night, March 10th. I encourage all of you to try to attend one of these performances. For more information contact the Opera Company at www.dc-opera.org This opera would appeal to all age groups.
January 1, 2011
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were happy and memorable. Mine were! Our daughter, who lives in Pt. Townsend, WA, was here with her husband and our grandson, Noah, who is now 2¼…
My regular teaching schedule resumes on Monday. Please remember that I expect a 24 hour notice for lesson cancellations and that I wish to be paid a month in advance. I will give you a bill by the 10th of the month. I will teach on Monday, January 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For Saturday students, I cannot teach on January 22 because I am the chairperson for the Northern Va. Music Teachers Voice Competition which will be held at the Woman’s Club. I will try to make up these lessons at other times.
If school is cancelled because of poor weather this Winter, often by the time of the afternoon lessons, the roads are in better shape and you might be able to make your lesson. Please be sure that I know your plans.
We have a voice workshop scheduled for Sunday afternoon, March 20. Details will follow and the spring recital will be held on May 22. The Student of the Week Recognition Program will continue…and check the web page for recital pictures, etc.
Stay Healthy and keep enjoying your singing!
December 5, 2010
Thank you again for your support of yesterday’s student voice recital. I was so pleased with all my students! You all sang so well and were so poised, in spite of only rehearsing once with Andrew. He played beautifully for all of you, but I realize I should have supplied him with a page turner for some of the songs and I apologize to Kimiya and Alex. There were just too many pages to your songs and Andrew was challenged. I am also very sorry that Jaimie’s father missed her performance. Now you know, to be sure to let me know to “wait’ for a missing audience member!
I want to especially thank Jeff Michaels and Tom Bailey for videotaping the performances. I know we missed the last three performances on the second program. I may soon learn how to operate my video camera! Luckily, before the adult recital one of my students was able to delete all my old pictures so we could record that performance. I thought the pictures had been deleted, but they had only been stored on my computer. Perhaps I’ll get “with it” before long!
I will hope to see all of you before Christmas….after December 15 and before the 22nd. Please e-mail me if you don’t plan to be at your scheduled lessons.
It was just wonderful to hear all of you! I am so pleased that the weather was fine and only one student couldn’t sing for health reasons. The recital pictures will soon be posted on the website.
Thank you again and again. We have a student workshop scheduled for March 20 and then the Spring recital is set for May 22. Keep practicing and listening to good singing.
I’ll see you all soon!
December 3, 2010
I am so looking forward to tomorrow’s voice recitals. I will be leaving my house by noon, so if you have any questions, please call me tonight or early tomorrow!
Please remember to bring YOUR OWN MUSIC!! Sit in the front seats of the auditorium and when the singer before you is finishing his/her second song, please walk quietly and quickly to stand back stage. As soon as that performer finishes, immediately go on stage to hand Andrew your music and to remind him of tempo, repeats, etc…He is playing so many songs and he needs to have a quick reminder. Remember, you lead him!! If the tempo drags, try to speed it up…He’ll follow you!
In an emergency, my cell phone number is 571-277-2286, but I probably won’t be able to receive messages after 1:20 P.M. My video camera and tripod will be set up and I would appreciate help with the videotaping. I need to give my whole attention to the performers! Thanks!
I will be away between Dec. 6 and Dec. 15. Lessons resume on the 16th and continue until the 21st. Please let me know if you don’t plan to be here then…I will show you the recital video tape then!
I am so glad most of my students will be performing tomorrow. The dates for the spring recitals are: Teens, May 22---Sunday at McLean Baptist Church 4:30 and 6:30 P.M. The church cannot accommodate us earlier so please note the “dinner hour” recital and mark your calendars. The adult recital is Sunday, June 5 at the Woman’s Club.
Best wishes to all the performers. I know tomorrow is going to be a wonderful event. I hope you’ll all be able to stay for the receptions!
Happy Holidays!
November 22, 2010
Our Holiday Voice Recital is less than two weeks away. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010. I am attaching a flier to this note so that you can send it to your friends and families…We hope to have a large audience at both recitals. I have decided to start the second recital at 3:15 p.m. and the first at 1:30 p.m. By now, all the students have signed up for rehearsal times with our pianist, Andrew Kraus. Also, many of you have expressed interest in singing at one recital or the other. If I don’t hear from you before Monday, I will just assign a time for you so that we have an equal number of singers performing at each recital. You are more than welcome to hear both programs….Refreshments will be served following each recital so I hope you will stay to meet the other singers and families. Unless you HAVE AN EMERGENCY, I expect everyone to stay until the conclusion of the programs. This is only fair to the last singers! The recitals will only last one hour each and there will be no intermission. I will begin on time!
If you haven’t already paid the recital fee of $35, please send this money with you student before the rehearsals. The money helps to pay for the hall rental and the pianist fee.
Please allow sufficient time to get to the Woman’s Club of Arlington. If Rt. 66 is heavy with traffic, try to find another way to get to Glebe Rd. Start out early to find the club house as it can be somewhat confusing to locate. The facility is located in a residential area south of Rt. 50 and off George Mason and 8th Street. There is plenty of parking in an adjacent lot, but the clubhouse is not handicap accessible. I am sorry about this…The building is quite old.
I will not be teaching between Dec. 6 and the 15th. Lessons will resume on Thursday, Dec. 16 to Dec. 21. I will show the video tapes of the recital performances. If any student would like lessons between Christmas and New Year’s, please let me know.
If you are looking for something to do over the holidays, I highly recommend that you try to attend the productions of “Oklahoma” at the newly renovated Arena State and “South Pacific” at the Kennedy Center.
Happy Thanksgiving! I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday, Dec. 4.
October 31, 2010
The Fall Workshops were very well attended and I think each student benefitted from the opportunity of performing and from hearing the other students. Our pianist, Andrew Kraus, who will accompany these young students at our Holiday Recital, was excellent. I thank all of you who attended and hope you enjoyed the event.
The Holiday Recital is scheduled for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. We will definitely
begin
the first teen recital at 1:30 p.m. Depending upon the number of students who will sing, the second recital will start at approximately 3 p.m. I really need to hear from all of you as to whether you are able to sing. My adult students will have their recital after the teens so it’s important that I have an accurate “head count.” I am expecting all students to participate. Our next recital will not be held until May 22.
The rehearsals with Andrew, our pianist, will be held in my studio, on three occasions. Each student will sign up for a specific practice time…only 10 minutes…These dates are: Sunday, November 28 (the Thanksgiving weekend) from 2 p.m. until approximately 6 p.m. Then Tuesday, November 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Please look at your calendars to see which of these times will work best for you. The fee for the recital is $35, which helps to pay for the pianist and the hall rental. As soon as you can, I would appreciate knowing on which recital you want to sing and at which rehearsal you wish to practice. Thanks! Please include the recital fee with your November tuition.
I will not teach between December 6 and the 15th and between December 22 and January 2. I would appreciate being given CD discs to replace those I have lent to students this Fall.
On Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11 A.M. at the Town Hall in Fairfax I will be performing a group of songs in French by Francis Poulenc. You are all cordially invited to attend. The performance is sponsored by the Friday Morning Music Club.
I continue to remind you all to drive slowly in my neighborhood and for those students who have lessons on Monday and Tuesday this week, November 1 and 2, I am teaching!
Please invite your friends and families to our Recital. Refreshments will be served after each program.
October 14, 2010
This is to remind you that our Student Voice Workshop will take place in my living room on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2010. The teens will sing at 1:30 or at 3:00 p.m. I have hired a professional pianist and I am expecting every student to attend. These performance opportunities are a very important part of my teaching. This event is for Students only. The families are invited to attend our Holiday Recital on Saturday, December 4. More details will follow. If you have not already paid me the $10 workshop fee, I would appreciate receiving this amount at your next lesson. I will be serving refreshments at the workshop and I hope the students will enjoy meeting each other. If there is time, I will have Andrew Kraus, the pianist, play the County District music and the students can practice singing their parts with his accompaniment. If you feel you cannot sing, I want you to attend anyway.
Good News! Three of my students, who are Virginia High School Seniors, were selected for Honors Choir: Felicia Francois, Westfield High School; Nora Cotter; Stonebridge H.S. and Melissa Murray, James Madison High School. Congratulations!
I remind you all that I wish to be paid for the lessons a month in advance. I know these young people are all very busy, but I am reserving the lessons spots especially for them. I will do everything I can to make up missed lessons in emergency situations. I hope you understand.
I look forward to hearing these young people sing for me and for each other next weekend. Please read about our recent “Students of the Week” on my webpage.
September 26, 2010
A reminder: There will be no lessons Tuesday, Sept. 28, through Monday, Oct. 4.
Don’t forget our student voice workshop to be held on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24. There will be two parts: 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. I would like each student to tell me on which section he wishes to perform. I will try to have the same number of teens sing at each time. Each student should be prepared to sing two songs—the songs don’t have to be memorized…but almost! For new students, if you’d prefer just to attend, that’s fine. I want everyone to be present unless there is an important conflict. These performance opportunities are so important for these young people. The students learn so much from hearing each other. The fee is $10 to help pay for our pianist, Andrew Krauss. He will also accompany these young students at our holiday recital on Saturday, Dec. 4. Please include this fee with your October tuition. I will not miss any more lessons until December 7. I plan to teach on Monday, Oct. 11, Columbus Day Observed. If you have a Monday lesson and won’t be in town, please let me know as soon as possible. I will be scheduling make-up lessons on this date.
It’s been a great beginning of the school year. I know how busy you families are with all the shuttling to activities you do for your young people. I really appreciate your letting me know as soon as you realize there is a scheduling conflict. I will do my best to make-up lessons.
I remind you all to drive slowly in our neighborhood. Thank you! You can read about the “Students of the Week” on my website. I hope October is a good month for us all.
The first Metropolitan Opera Simulcast for our local movie theatres will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. You can obtain further information on the Metropolitan Opera website.
September 6, 2010
I will begin my regular teaching schedule this week so don’t forget to attend your voice lesson! Also, please remember to drive slowly in my neighborhood. We have many children living on my cul de sac. The speed limit in my development is 25 mph. Thanks!
Last Thursday night 8 of my high school students performed a recital at the Chesterbrook Residences on Westmoreland Avenue: Victoria Todd, Allie Graham, Jaimie Mulligan, Isabel Hefner, Alex De Luca, Michelle Lerch, Nancy Pruett and Felicia Francois. I was so proud of them. They were accompanied by Gillian Cookson, a wonderful pianist. Pictures appear on my website.
On my website, you will also enjoy seeing a video recording of Melissa Solomon, a former student from Langley High School, singing the National Anthem at a Nationals Baseball Game on August 14, 2010. Melissa attends Baylor University.
A reminder that I will not teach on Tuesday, Sept. 28, Weds., Sept. 29, Thursday, Sept. 30 and Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2.
I hope the first week of school for all of you will go well and that you will enjoy your music studies this year!
August 18, 2010
I hope you have all enjoyed your summer vacations. I have travelled to California and to Alaska and then we enjoyed a wonderful visit with our daughters and grandchildren at Wintergreen. I have also been teaching when I have been home. In the next week some of my summer students will present a program at a local retirement facility where the grandmother of one of my students resides.
My Fall schedule is now set and hopefully no changes will need to be made. It will be difficult for me if you need to find another lesson time. The schedule begins the day after Labor Day. Please don’t forget! I will not be teaching Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 so I am anxious to have everyone come the first week of school or the last week of August, if possible. Saturday students, I will teach Saturday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day weekend) and Columbus Day Observed, Oct. 11. If you forget when your lesson is scheduled, please call me immediately. I know some of you were assigned a time last June.
Lessons must be paid for in advance. I will send a bill home the first week of the month. If, for some reason, you must miss a lesson, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise you will be charged. This is only fair. I have not increased my lesson fee. A half hour lesson is $35 and a 45 minute lesson is $45. I expect each student to practice his/her music every week and to come prepared to the lessons. Also, I want him/her to bring new CDR discs so that the lesson can be recorded. The price per copy of music I reproduce on my copying machine is 5 cents.
Our Fall Student Workshop will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24 with two sessions for my teens- 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. I expect every student to attend. A professional pianist will accompany and the fee for the event will be $10. The Holiday Recital is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. Again, we will have two teen programs- 1:30 and 3:15 P.M. ( I think!). The recital fee is $35. The Spring Recital will be held on the afternoon and evening of Sunday, May 22, 2011. Please mark these dates on your calendars.
I will continue awarding a “Student of the Week.” This honor is given to the student who has worked the hardest for that particular week…It is based on “preparation for lessons.” The student will have his/her name and picture posted on the website….and he/she will receive a small present from me.
I look forward to working with each of you. If for some reason you do not plan to continue lessons, please let me know immediately so I can offer your time to someone else. Also try to get as much rest as you can and pay attention to how you use your voice every day. It matters to your singing successes. Try to listen to excellent singers. I will continue to give you names of performers you can watch on “You Tube.” This is a fantastic learning resource.
I want to thank Lori Peterson again for her excellent job in keeping my website up to date. I hope you will check the site regularly for student news, etc.